The midland journal., 1887-11-18
Grasses and Clovers.

University eff Illinois furnishes the
Rura! and iStochman an instructive
paper, detailing observations carefully
made during the present season Of Sc
we're drouth in the West. Farmers in
the East may have their turn in the ex-
perience of such a drouth next season
or the following, and the information on
the grasses contained in the professors 5
article be studied with profit:
Alfalfa or Lucern has made the most
continuous growth and remained most
fresh and green during the time of the
greatest beat and drouth. The stems
are more harsh and woody than in fav.
o1able seasons.
Red clover ranked next to the Alfalfa
in growth during the worst period of
drouth, and is counted a much more
valuable plant for this region. Its pres
ence in pastures and meadows has been
a great help. The common or medium
variety started sooner and made better
growth after cutting than did the Nam.
moth. A small NJ eadow of the latter
variety gave very large crop, while
the yield of Timothy, Red Top and
Bluegrass in other meadows was much
reduced. Glover sown last Spring made
a fair growth, while Timothy sown last
Autumn and this Spring failed entirely.
Of the more commonly grown grass
es proper, Orchard grass stood easily
first in quickness of stating growth
after cutting, or after rain, and in the
quantity of food furnished during the
dryest weather.
Timothy we'll illustrated one of it's
weakest points, showing little sign of
growth for three or four weeks after be-
ing cut, and not responding readily to
the first rains.
Bluegrass stopped growth probably
first of all the pasture grasses, and for a
time seemed lifeless. After moderate
rains it quickly revived and has made a
fair growth.
johnson grass is not counted
valuable for US, as it is very coarse
grass and kills to the ground with
slight frost, although the roots have not
apparently been injured during the last
two Winters-is worthy of note from
the great growth made after the mod
crate rains of August.
Rarely has there been better illus
tration than that given this year oc the
good effects from allowing good growth
of grass on the pastures in spring and
early summer as safeguard against
drouth, or of the much better growth
even during dry weather, on fertile
soils in good condition.
In q noticeable degree grass was n u
tritious during the dry weather, cattle
doing fairly we'll on very short pastur-
age. In an equally noticeable degree
the first growth of grass after rains had
the "washy'' character of the first
growth in Spring.
The check to evaporation by the
shade of trees in many cases was such
that the grass on the north side of the
trees remained green, while on the
south it was parched, apparently lifeless
On the other hand the great quantity
of moisture drawn from the soil by the
roots of trees was clearly shown by the
lessened growth Of corn within twenty
feet of row of trees running north and
south.
The astonishing ability of corn-a
true grass-to resist drouth, if once
we'll established on fertile soil, has not
often been better shown. With the soil
so dry that seeds would barely gsrmin-
ate and young plants make but feeble
growth, the field corn continued to
grow and perfect ears in surprising
manner.
Among the lessons retaught central
Illinois farmers by this drouth are
these. 1t is well to give red clover a
prominent place in seeding lands for
pasture or meadow if the hay is to be
used on the farm. Orchard grass has
not been SO we'll appreciated as it should
be. 1t may we'll be tried more exten.
sively. Bluegrass does badly during